Communications Manager

About IMG Academy
Named by Sports Business Journal as one of the Best Places to Work in Sports in 2024, IMG Academy is the world's leading sports education brand, providing a holistic education model that empowers student-athletes to win their future, preparing them for college and for life. IMG Academy provides growth opportunities for all student-athletes through an innovative suite of on-campus and online experiences:

• Boarding school and camps, via a state-of-the-art campus in Bradenton, Fla.
• Online coaching via the IMG Academy brand, with a focus on personal development through the lens of sport and performance
• Online college recruiting, via the NCSA brand, providing content, tools, coaching and access to a network of 40,000 college coaches

The Communications Manager will plan, coordinate, and execute day-to-day corporate communications plans for IMG Academy’s world-renowned sport training and education institution in Bradenton, Florida. This person will help create a steady source of positive and noteworthy news surrounding IMG Academy, its student-athletes, alumni, partners, and events, while also providing internal communications and crisis communications support.

Position Responsibilities

• The Manager will apply communications and media relations skills to the business groups and key audiences they support.
• Works with Senior Director of Communications to build and execute media relations, owned channel, and content strategies to secure reputation-based coverage on topics such as academic, athletic, and personal development programs.
• Creates and maintains relationships with news directors, editors, writers, reporters, photojournalists, video crews, bloggers, and other members of the working media on a regular basis and serves as day-to-day contact. They will proactively pitch and engage with local and national media to secure reputation-based coverage.
• Seek out compelling stories and lead planning and development for cross-functional corporate storytelling, inclusive of content creation: video, photo, digital and written in support of IMG Academy’s programming.
• Crafts key messages, statements, media alerts and news releases as needed.
• Provides internal communications support, liaising with senior leadership and HR to maintain an effective strategy.
• Partners with community relations to amplify IMG Academy’s role within the community.
• Assists the marketing department in creating an impact through storytelling across all of IMG Academy’s digital platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, etc.).
• Helps establish a best-in-class approach to media measurement, monitoring and reporting that quantifies the effectiveness of programs and directly influences strategy and deliver impact to the organization with platforms like Cision and Meltwater.
• Liaises with IMG Academy’s official partners to share content, contacts, and ideas for storytelling.
• Adheres to all company policies, procedures, and business ethic codes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, journalism, marketing, or communications.
• At least four years’ experience working in corporate communications or public relations in a similar position.
• Knowledge, experience, and passion for the sports industry; working experience in the sports industry is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated experience with digital/social content at a professional level.
• Comfort with using Cision, Meltwater or similar media database for creating media lists, tracking, and analyzing media.
• Desire to work collaboratively with colleagues and the overall communications team. This individual will value relationships and partnerships across IMG Academy’s ecosystem.
• A self-starter with a drive to complete projects and work efficiently with a positive attitude.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• Must be able to move around campus which includes gym, turf, fields, etc.
• Ability to work flexible hours to include nights, weekends and holidays is required.

Background Requirements:

• Requires a background check upon offer
• Requires a drug test upon offer

Don’t meet every single requirement? We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfect with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Get to know us better: 

www.imgacademy.com

www.imgacademy.com/careers

IMG Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.